Ronald E. Shields
Childhood on the River Circa 1960 by Ronald E. Shields is a nostalgic and reflective poem that captures the innocence and turbulence of a 1960s childhood. Through vivid memories of neighborhood play, school, and early encounters with faith, the speaker recalls a simpler yet complex time when the world felt both sheltered and rapidly changing. The poem balances personal moments--like the sound of ice cream trucks and street games--with the weight of larger societal shifts, as television, music, and the unrest of the era begin to seep into childhood’s fleeting wonder. Ultimately, it evokes the inevitability of time’s passage, as childhood memories dissolve like a river's wake heading toward the unknown.
Whiskey and Cigarettes at the End by Ronald E. Shields is a somber meditation on aging, loss, and the quiet rituals of life nearing its conclusion. Set against the backdrop of a desolate cemetery and a fading winter landscape, the poem captures an intimate moment between an elderly couple, quietly waiting and reflecting. With stark imagery of dying trees and abandoned times, it conveys a sense of resignation and the bittersweet nature of memory. The poem contemplates the finality of life, where the remnants of the past--the taste of whiskey, the comfort of cigarettes--linger like a last connection to a world that has largely faded away.
The Moment by Ronald E. Shields is a contemplative poem that explores themes of forgiveness, divinity, and the miraculous order of the universe. Through the image of Jesus on the cross, the poem reflects on a transcendent moment of clarity and grace. Looking down from his "wooden tower," Jesus sees the beauty and perfection of creation, even in something as small and humble as grains of sand. The poem suggests that every element of life is interconnected and purposeful, infused with the divine presence, and calls attention to the power of forgiveness and the sacredness found in each moment.